“That is the result of your busy life, my dear; and I am most sincerely thankful that our venture here does not really lose its charm for us, as time passes. We are all happier than Isabelle, though; and I regret her feeling more than I can say.”
“She’s trying ever so hard to be contented, Motherkin, and I hoped she was succeeding.”
“She will succeed. No honest effort ever failed of a certain success. She may never be as happy here as we are, however, for her nature is different. She craves luxuries and refinements which we could do without. I wish I could control them for her!” And Mrs. Beckwith sighed gently.
“Now, dearie, don’t go for to yearn for the moon. Be satisfied that so many of your brood are doing well, and maybe Isabelle will work out her own contentment some way. Oh! before I forget it and get bee-stung to the exclusion of other thoughts, Miss Joanna is to give a dinner-party to-morrow. She handed me the invitation for you and Belle yesterday, and I didn’t think to take it out of my pocket last night. You see, the bees were swarming, and that was all I wanted to do then.”
“My dear! and I suppose she expected an acceptance or the reverse this morning.”
“Yes; but I assured her you would come.”
“You had no right to do that, for I cannot avail myself of her kindness to this extent.”
“I should like to know why not?”
“Many reasons why not. I do not wish her to feel any compulsion in social matters, regarding us. We are not rich people, and all of the Brooks’ guests are. Our especial host and hostess would doubtless enjoy our coming, as they always seem to do, but I should not enjoy putting myself upon a false standing. My self-respect would not permit; though I will write a note at once, and one of you must take it across fields to Miss Brook.” Mrs. Beckwith rose as she spoke, and Beatrice hastened to clasp her mother’s waist with restraining arms.
“Please, Motherkin, I haven’t finished my story; I had only begun. You know it takes forty times as many words for me to tell a thing in as for anybody else. Miss Joanna foresaw just this behavior on your part, Motherkin darling, so she was forearmed. She says she shall take it as positively unneighborly if you do not come. She wishes you to meet these ‘old families,’ folks who have been aristocrats so long that they have forgotten how to be snobbish, if they ever knew. You will enjoy them, and they you. Our friends were very, very emphatic in their urgency. But that isn’t all; she wanted to know if I thought Isabelle would come over to-morrow early, and arrange her rooms for her. She says she has watched Belle, and everything she touches takes on a different look from what anybody else can give it. Of course, the old furniture is not to be disturbed. Miss Brook would as soon think of laying aside her own gray gown as banishing one stick of that venerable, upholstered stuff. But it’s flowers and things; some new pictures, and—Motherkin! such a surprise! I’m not going to tell you—not even Miss Brook knows—but I hope with all the hope that is in me that my sister will not refuse to go.”